Get 2010-2011 Undergraduate Scholarship Defer/Leave Of Absence ...

Notre Dame encourages its pre-med students to treat a gap year as an opportunity to strengthen their medical school applications, acquire new skills, hone the skills they have, broaden the scope of their knowledge and experience, and even finance their studies.

You can apply to college while you're still in high school, the most common tactic, during your gap year, or after your time off is complete. An upside to applying to college during high school is that you're on the same timeline as your peers and you can lean on your teachers and guidance counselors for help.

Most scholarships have an expiration date, meaning they are not intended for unlimited use. That date can last throughout your entire post-secondary career or expire much sooner. Scholarships are usually only awarded once, but some providers will allow past recipients to apply again for a consecutive school year.

Merit-based scholarships generally do not change if you defer your enrollment a year. Need-based grants and scholarships tend to only be affected if your family's financial situation changes during your gap year.

Retention and Graduation Rates While parents may be concerned that a gap year may decrease their child's academic momentum, research shows that around 90% of gap year participants attend college within a year of their break. Taking a gap year has also been linked to higher retention and college graduation rates.

The Gap Year Association offers a list of affiliated schools and gap-year programs. Some schools allow gap-year students to defer their financial aid package, including scholarships. Schools may also offer special scholarships or additional financial aid to gap-year applicants.

As gap years become more popular, and the benefits more widely understood, colleges have become more accepting and supportive of the decision to take a year off. A gap year shouldn't affect your admissions chances if you treat it as an extended part of your education.

Whether a student is applying again as a transfer student or after taking a gap year, the process is similar to regular admissions. Students need to apply through the school's website, demonstrate strong academic credentials and provide solid letters of recommendation.